A paraplegic man fears having to sell his home to fund private surgery following an infection he claimed was caused by an unsuitable wheelchair and cushions.

Married dad-of-two Peter Read, 48, from Pentreuchaf, Pwllheli , was left disabled after a hang-glider accident in 1995.

A pressure sore broke in October 2014 and his GP advised him to urgently get a new chair and cushion. The sore turned septic and has “eaten” into his flesh.

Gwynedd councillor and disability champion, Mr Read has failed to get a custom-built wheelchair from Betsi Cadwaladr health authority to ease his discomfort.

He said: “I’m still no closer to getting a chair than I was two years ago. They have offered me a chair but it doesn’t suit me and they say: ‘That or nothing’ so I’m still fighting. I don’t want anybody to buy me a new wheelchair; it’s the principle I’m fighting. If I lived in England, I would get a voucher to get one and pay the difference myself.”

He said Betsi bosses this week had accepted that cushions supplied to him were not suitable.

Mr Read spent the last seven months at Ysbyty Gwynedd as the sore had infected his bone. The infection has eaten “most of the muscle” in his left backside and also means he will need a colostomy.

“The colostomy is because the sore has got so close to the colon, but the consultant in Bangor can’t see me for three months and reckons it will be another three before he can operate. I then need three months to recuperate before a big operation of removing the infected bone from my hip and replacing and using muscle from my leg to repair my backside.”

Mr Read is now at his wit’s end. He believes all his treatments and operations will cost up to £40,000. With his latest hospital stay, he believes the bill could total £100,000.

He said: “We’re considering selling our house so I can go private. We’ve also looked at going for an operation in Europe.

He has returned to his work as a councillor but admits that he gets tired easily: “I don’t know what to do. I’ve got a wife and two young children and it’s been a very stressful two years. It’s difficult for my wife and children. This isn’t their problem but they are being dragged into it. My life is on hold including holidays. What am I supposed to do? I want to carry on with my life.”

A Betsi spokeswoman said: “Following professional assessment, the Health Board supplied Mr Read with what was judged the most appropriate wheelchair that is generally available on the NHS. However Mr Read has indicated that he feels he requires a more specialised wheelchair which is not routinely funded by the NHS. An initial application to the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, who are responsible for funding such equipment, was unsuccessful and we are awaiting the outcome of an appeal against that decision.”